[Fortunately, Kaveh's not against physical contact at all--and even with the weirdness of last week cleared away, he kind of picked up on Eiden's nature, so. It's fine. He has pushed down the urge to apologize profusely.]
I mean--I do, of course. [He kind of thought that was obvious, given how Eiden lets him ramble about art to his heart's content, but. Still.] But it was still weird. Truthfully, I really don't like things messing with my head like that. [He doesn't seem upset, so much as kind of annoyed, but. Still.] That's the second time in recent months.
Oh, yes. I was in a competition shortly before I came here--one that the Akademiya hosts every year. The prize was something called the Diadem of Knowledge, as well as the potential to inherit someone's great fortune, but it turns out that that someone imbued a piece of his consciousness in the diadem and wanted to inflict the nihilistic results of his life's research on his chosen winner. It was terrible, my head ached for hours even after I smashed it.
[ eiden just blinks fastly for a moment because this is a bit to take in, but once he has parsed it out... he just kind of curls his fingers into his palms, frowning. ]
... That's powerful magic... but it definitely doesn't sound like it was anything good to keep around. You think it's still affecting you here...?
No, no, it's over and done with. That was at least a month ago. His consciousness dissipated once I destroyed the diadem; we went through his fortune before I donated it and sealed away his notes, but there was nothing else dangerous there.
[But still, it was recent enough that he's not all that happy about having his head tampered with, even if the result wasn't that bad.]
That's good at least, but still leaves the mystery up for solving... I guess I'm just going to have to watch out for you, hm?
[ a small smile, quick to disappear. ]
A great fortune, though, and you donated it all? That's impressive... seriously. Did you think at all about keeping it...? I'm sure you had your reasons, I think I'm just curious.
[Hmm, well. He doesn't respond to the first, but he does answer Eiden's question.]
Sachin--that was his name--believed that the world was hopeless. He conducted research into human nature, and what he found was that people are destined for conflict and destruction. He expected his chosen successor to succumb to suffering because his findings were objectively proven, or to be pulled in by greed and squander his money. Using his fortune to make the world better seemed like the best way to prove him wrong and stop him from causing more pain.
[It's difficult to explain all the complex layers--the academia, the emotional investment, everything tied into the championship. But he tries.]
And... my father died twenty years ago, working to do good and combat Sachin's findings himself. Even if I'd wanted to keep the money, I don't think I would've been able to use it, knowing that.
[Which he hadn't known at the time, but to him, it cements that he made the right decision. His father's death may still be his fault, but at least he has a deeper understanding of it now.]
[ oh kaveh... eiden smiles softly, because kaveh is. such a good guy. sure, this is a very complicated situation for him to parse out, but he listens with a calm expression, patient and knowing that it's not his world, so of course it's going to be a little hard to understand. at the end of it, he nods. ]
Sounds like you turned a really bleak thing into something that could help everyone.
[ a beat ]
You stood your ground, even if maybe it didn't benefit you directly, and I think that's pretty amazing that you chose to do that. I'm impressed.
I just did what I could. [He doesn't even sound like he's being demure, either; he just sounds like he genuinely believes this.] I didn't think about it all that much, to be honest. I just couldn't let him hurt anyone else.
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[ he smiles, but it's much less awkward and more curious than anything? ]
I think you were a little tired, Mr. Team Go To Sleep. Or... [ a laugh, he doesn't believe this one: ] you were really comfortable?
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I have no idea. All of a sudden, I just felt very... relaxed? [???? WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.]
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I mean, I didn't have a problem with it. Promise.
If you feel relaxed around me, I'll take it as a compliment?
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I mean--I do, of course. [He kind of thought that was obvious, given how Eiden lets him ramble about art to his heart's content, but. Still.] But it was still weird. Truthfully, I really don't like things messing with my head like that. [He doesn't seem upset, so much as kind of annoyed, but. Still.] That's the second time in recent months.
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[ he looks a little concerned, because it sounds like it sucks. the audacity???? ]
... Do you know what happened back then to cause it?
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... That's powerful magic... but it definitely doesn't sound like it was anything good to keep around. You think it's still affecting you here...?
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No, no, it's over and done with. That was at least a month ago. His consciousness dissipated once I destroyed the diadem; we went through his fortune before I donated it and sealed away his notes, but there was nothing else dangerous there.
[But still, it was recent enough that he's not all that happy about having his head tampered with, even if the result wasn't that bad.]
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That's good at least, but still leaves the mystery up for solving... I guess I'm just going to have to watch out for you, hm?
[ a small smile, quick to disappear. ]
A great fortune, though, and you donated it all? That's impressive... seriously. Did you think at all about keeping it...? I'm sure you had your reasons, I think I'm just curious.
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Sachin--that was his name--believed that the world was hopeless. He conducted research into human nature, and what he found was that people are destined for conflict and destruction. He expected his chosen successor to succumb to suffering because his findings were objectively proven, or to be pulled in by greed and squander his money. Using his fortune to make the world better seemed like the best way to prove him wrong and stop him from causing more pain.
[It's difficult to explain all the complex layers--the academia, the emotional investment, everything tied into the championship. But he tries.]
And... my father died twenty years ago, working to do good and combat Sachin's findings himself. Even if I'd wanted to keep the money, I don't think I would've been able to use it, knowing that.
[Which he hadn't known at the time, but to him, it cements that he made the right decision. His father's death may still be his fault, but at least he has a deeper understanding of it now.]
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Sounds like you turned a really bleak thing into something that could help everyone.
[ a beat ]
You stood your ground, even if maybe it didn't benefit you directly, and I think that's pretty amazing that you chose to do that. I'm impressed.
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